Primaries form in races against top-targeted House Democrats

Fresh off a recruiting surge the likes of which it hadn’t seen in
several cycles, the House GOP now faces financially competitive
primaries in many of the districts they will pursue in 2010.

Third quarter financial reports filed this week show relatively few free and clear primaries for Republican candidates in top races. And in several cases where an establishment favorite has emerged, other candidates are threatening to keep him or her from the general election.

{mosads}In Virginia, businessman Scott Rigell has the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) excited about his $227,000 raised in the third quarter, to which he added $225,000 of his own money. But freshman Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Va.) has also drawn another moneyed GOP challenger in businessman Ben Loyola, who self-funded $500,000 and has more cash on hand than Rigell.

A similar, if less flush, situation is forming against Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.). There, attorney Ethan Hastert (R) also raised $227,000 in the third quarter, while state Sen. Randy Hultgren (R) raised $74,000 after entering the race with a week to go in the quarter. Hastert, the son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, is the establishment favorite.

Against Rep. Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), the national party likes retired Army Col. Lou Huddleston, who raised $58,000 and self-funded $45,000. But businessman Tim D’Annunzio self-funded $300,000 and could play spoiler.

Against Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), state Assemblyman Van Tran had his fundraising fall off sharply and also saw another Vietnamese-American Republican, Quang Pham, begin building a campaign fund. Tran outraised Pham $92,000 to $64,000 for the quarter, but Pham self-funded another $62,500 to edge Tran in receipts.

Likewise, physician Nan Hayworth asserted herself in the GOP primary to face Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.). While state Assemblyman Greg Ball has been in the race for months and outraised Hall for the second straight quarter, Hayworth raised nearly as much as Ball in the third quarter ($195,000 to $168,000) and self-funded another $150,000.

Ball’s freewheeling style hasn’t endeared him to GOP leaders, and Hayworth could provide a milder alternative.

Ohio state Sen. Bob Gibbs is the favorite to face Rep. Zack Space (D-Ohio), and he outraised a pair of primary opponents. Gibbs raised $115,000, while 2008 nominee Fred Dailey raised $45,000 and attorney Jeanette Moll raised $31,000.

Businessman Les Phillip and Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks both raised between $65,000 and $70,000 for the race to face Rep. Parker Griffith (D-Ala.). Brooks helped his cause by self-funding another $50,000, while Phillip has been plagued by a high burn rate.

In many other races, national Republicans are waiting for a strong candidate to emerge from a crowded primary.

Former state Rep. David Schweikert and businessman Jim Ward both raised less than $40,000 in Rep. Harry Mitchell’s (D-Ariz.) district.

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) has emerged as a target this year, and state Sen. Bill Stouffer outraised former state Rep. Vicky Hartzler $203,000 to $119,000, but they both have around $200,000 on hand after Hartzler self-funded $105,000.

Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D-Fla.) far outraised all of her GOP primary opponents, as neither Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel or state Rep. Sandy Adams asserted herself as the leading GOP candidate. Adams outraised Diebel $60,000 to $50,000.

Republicans also have contested primaries in the races to face Democratic Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.), Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Walt Minnick (Idaho), Gary Peters (Mich.) and Chet Edwards (Texas).